Timing device with alarm mechanism



July 3, 1956 G. DUCOMMUN TIMING DEVICE WITH ALARM MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1954 INVENTOR GEORGES UJCOH UN ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,752,750 TIMING DEVICE WITH ALARM MECHANISM Georges Ducommun, Grenchen, Switzerland, assignor to Baurngartner Frres S. A., Grenchen, Switzerland Application June 29, 1954, Serial No. 440,183

Claims priority, application Switzerland November 18, 1953 3 Claims. (Cl. 58-57.5)

The present invention relates to a timing device with alarm mechanism.

This timing device is characterized in that the back of its case is bell-shaped and is arranged so as to assume the triple function of a sounding body, a movementholder and a dust-cover.

Three embodiments of the invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figures 1 to 3 are views in axial section of these three embodiments, respectively.

The timing device referred to may be an alarm watch or an apparatus adapted to produce an acoustical signal at the end of an adjustable lapse of time, but not indicating the time.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure l, the movement 1 of the timing device is enclosed in a case comprising a back 2, a combined bezel and center 3, a crystal 4 and a false bottom 5. The dial is denoted by the numeral 6.

The false bottom 5 is fitted with a snap action in the case center 3. In its center portion there is fixed a stud 7 which bears against the back 2. The latter is hellshaped. Its lower portion, originally plane, is slightly curved upwards owing to the pressure exerted by the stud 7 and is therefore somewhat stressed when placed in position. The side wall 8 of the bell-shaped back 2 bears against a flange 9 of the movement, for instance a projection of the pillar plate, so that this flange is clamped between the wall 8 and a shoulder 10 of the combined bezel and center 3. It will be seen that the movement 1 is thus suspended within the case by its flange 9, the back forming therefore a movement-holder means.

Besides this function, the back 2 also serves as a sounding body. It is adapted to receive the strokes of a striker 11 (for instance a hammer) actuated by the movement on releasing of the alarm mechanism. The sound obtained is strong owing to the great area of the bell 2 and to the tension to which its lower portion is submitted. Openings 12 provided in the false bottom 5 enable the sound to go out of the case and to be propagated in the surrounding air.

The third function of the back 2 is that of a dustcover. As a matter of fact, the bell-shaped back 2 completely covers the movement 1 on thebridge side and prevents dust from entering. In order to improve the tightness of the case, it is possible to provide a washer of compressible material (not shown), surrounding the winding stem 17 where it traverses the wall 8 of the back 2.

The second embodiment shown (Figure 2) comprises the same elements as the construction illustrated in Figure 1. The only difference consists in the means used for maintaining in positioning the bell-shaped back 2. The stud 7 is dispensed with and the back 2 is held in position by means of its side wall 8. For this purpose, the inner face of the case center 3 has a groove 13 in which a flange 14 of the wall 8 is springily engaged. Below the groove 13, the inner face of the case center 3 presents a frusto-conical surface 15 which is tapered upwards. For putting in position the back 2, it suflices to insert it from the bottom into the case center 3 and to push it upwards. The flange 14 of the wall 8 slips along the surface 15 and is slightly compressed in the radial direction until it falls into the groove 13. The shape of this groove 13 is chosen such that the back 2 tends to slip upwards, the flange 9 of the movement 1 thus being clamped as in the first embodiment.

In the construction shown in Figure 3, the bell-shaped back 2 is held in position in the same manner as in the case of Figure 2, but the false bottom 5 is lacking, so that the back 2 forms the outer shell of the case on its lower face. When the alarm mechanism is released, the member 11 strikes against the wall 8 of the back 2. For preventing the latter from coming into contact with the wrist of the user and the sounding vibrations from being therefore damped, the horns 16, rigidly fixed to or integral with the case center 3, are highly arched, so that the case rests on the wrist by the free ends of these horns.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the follow- 1g claims.

t claim:

1. A timing device with alarm mechanism comprising a case center, means forming a shoulder within the case center, a movement, a flange for the movement to cooperate With the shoulder, hammer means included in the movement, a case back including a thin flat base portion and a substantially cylindrical thin wall portion with an open top, the case back adapted to be contacted by the hammer means, and clamping means for holding the flange of the movement between the open top of the case back and the shoulder in a tight relationship, whereby the case back assumes the triple function of a sounding body, a movement-holder, and a dust-cover.

2. A timing device according to claim 1 in which the clamping means includes a flange for the wall portion of the case back, the case center being internally grooved to receive the flange in clamping engagement with the movement.

3. A timing device according to claim 1 in which horns are provided for the case whereby the case back is prevented from coming into contact with the wrist of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,644,294 Ditisheim July 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 274,904 Switzerland July 16, 1951 285,202 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1952 

